Seed tube for an agricultural seeding machine

ABSTRACT

A seed tube for an agricultural seeding machine includes a side wall having at least a portion thereof formed from a transparent material. A sensor includes a transmitter which is positioned adjacent an outside of the side wall, and operates through the transparent material.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to agricultural seeding machines, and,more particularly, to seed tubes for such seeding machines.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

An agricultural seeding machine such as a row crop planter or graindrill places seeds at a desired depth within a plurality of parallelseed trenches formed in soil. In the case of a row crop planter, aplurality of row crop units are typically ground driven using wheels,shafts, sprockets, transfer cases, chains and the like. Each row cropunit has a frame which is moveably coupled with a tool bar. The framemay carry a main seed hopper, herbicide hopper and insecticide hopper.If a granular herbicide and insecticide are used, the meteringmechanisms associated with dispensing the granular product into the seedtrench are relatively simple. On the other hand, the mechanismsnecessary to properly meter the seeds, dispense the seeds at apredetermined rate and place the seeds at predetermined relativelocations within the seed trench are relatively complicated.

The mechanisms associated with metering and placing the seeds generallycan be divided into a seed metering system and a seed placement systemwhich are in communication with each other. The seed metering system,also referred to herein as a seed meter, receives the seeds in a bulkmanner from the seed hopper carried by the frame. Different types ofseed meters may be used such as seed plates, finger plates, and seeddiscs. In the case of a seed disc metering system, a seed disc is formedwith a plurality of seed cells spaced about the periphery thereof. Seedsare moved into the seed cells, with one or more seeds in each seed celldepending upon the size and configuration of the seed cell. A vacuum orpositive pressure air may be used in conjunction with the seed disc toassist in movement of the seeds into the seed cells. The seeds aresingulated and discharged at a predetermined rate to the seed placementsystem.

The seed placement system may be categorized as a gravity drop system ora power drop system. A seed placement system of the power drop varietygenerally can be classified as a seed conveyor belt drop, rotary valvedrop, chain drop or air drop. Such power drop systems are known and thusnot described further.

In the case of a gravity drop system, a seed tube has an inlet end whichis positioned below the seed metering system. The singulated seeds fromthe seed metering system merely drop into the seed tube and fall viagravitational force from a discharge end thereof into the seed trench.The seed tube may be curved in a rearward manner to assist in directingseed into the seed trench. The rearward curvature also assists inreducing bouncing of the seeds back and forth within the tube as itfalls therethrough into the seed trench. Further, the rearward curvaturereduces bouncing of the seed as it strikes the bottom of the seedtrench.

To ensure that the planting unit is operating correctly, the seed tubemay be provided with a seed sensor. A light is projected from a lightsource across the hollow interior of the seed tube to a light receiverlocated in an aperture of the front wall. When a seed passes between thelight source and the light receiver, the seed interrupts the light beamand the seed is detected.

The light source and light receiver are designed to extend into theapertures and be substantially even with the interior surfaces of thefront and rear walls. However, sometimes the sensor may extend past theinterior surface of the front wall. In this situation, the seed mayimpact the top edge of the sensor, possibly damaging the seed anddeflecting the seed trajectory into the seed trench.

What is needed in the art is a seed tube with a sensor which operateseffectively, yet does not interfere with seed drop through the seedtube.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a seed tube having side walls which areat least in part transparent, and a sensor having a transmitter which ispositioned on the outside of the seed tube and operates through thetransparent side wall.

The invention comprises, in one form thereof, a seed tube for anagricultural seeding machine which includes a side wall having at leasta portion thereof formed from a transparent material. A sensor includesa transmitter which is positioned adjacent an outside of the side wall,and operates through the transparent material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a portion of a seeding machine including anembodiment of a seed tube of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the seed tube shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the seed tube shown in FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the seed tube shown in FIGS. 1-3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIG. 1, there isshown an embodiment of a seeding machine 10 of the present invention. Inthe embodiment shown, seeding machine 10 is in the form of a row cropplanter but may also be in the form of a grain drill, etc. FIG. 1illustrates a single row crop unit of a multi-row planter, with each rowcrop unit being substantially identical and connected to a common toolbar 12 using U-bolts 14. Only a single row crop unit is shown forsimplicity sake.

Each row crop unit includes a multi-part frame 16 which is attached totool bar 12 by parallel linkage 18. Tool bar 12 is coupled to a tractionunit (not shown), such as an agricultural tractor. For example, tool bar12 may be coupled to an agricultural tractor using a 3-point hitchassembly. Tool bar 12 may be coupled with transport wheel assemblies,marker arms, etc. which may be of conventional design and not shown forsimplicity sake. The transport wheels, in known manner, may provideground drive to the row crop unit through the use of shafts, chains,sprockets, transfer cases, etc.

Frame 16 carries a double disc furrow opener 20 for forming a seedtrench in soil, and a pair of gauge wheels 22 positioned adjacent to theoutside of each respective disc of double disc furrow opener 20. Eachgauge wheel 26 may be vertically adjusted to adjust the depth of thetrench which is cut into the soil using double disc furrow opener 20.Frame 16 also carries a pair of closing wheels 24 positioned generallyin line with double disc furrow opener 20.

Frame 16 also carries a seed hopper 26 and chemical hopper 28. Achemical meter 29 directs chemicals from chemical hopper 28 to achemical applicator 30. The particular planting unit shown in FIG. 1 isin the form of a no-till planter having coultered no-till opening disks32 for management of debris on the ground.

Seed meter 34 is positioned in communication with and receives seed fromseed hopper 26. Seed meter 34 singulates the seeds and provides theseeds at a predetermined rate to seed tube 36. The seed falls throughseed tube 36 and is deposited into the planting furrow formed by furrowopener 20.

Referring now to FIGS. 2-4, seed tube 36 will be described in greaterdetail. Seed tube 36 includes an open inlet end 38, an open outlet end40, and four side walls 42, 44, 46 and 48 defining a hollow interior 50.Side wall 42 defines a front wall of seed tube 36 and side wall 44defines a rear wall of seed tube 36 (with respect to the direction oftravel of seeding machine 10). Front wall 42 and rear wall 44 are eachcurved in the rearward direction to deposit the seed in the seed trenchwhile reducing the tendency of the seed to bounce out of the seedtrench.

Approximately midway along the length of front wall 42 is a sensorpocket 52 which is sized and shaped to receive a sensor 54 forming halfof a sensor pair which cooperate together to sense individual seedspassing through seed tube 36. In the embodiment shown, the sensorincludes a transmitter 54 and receiver 56. Transmitter 54 is in the formof a light source and receiver 56 is in the form of a light receiver.More particularly, light source 54 is in the form of a light emittingdiode (LED). LED 54 and light receiver 56 are connected to a seedpopulation monitor in the tractor cab by suitable electrical leads 57.Sensors including LED's and light receivers for use in seed tubes areknown and thus not described further.

Sensor pocket 52 is in the form of a circular upstanding wall extendingfrom front wall 42. This circular shape matches with the external shapeof LED 54, and allows a seal or adhesive (not specifically shown) to beused for hermetic sealing between LED 54 and front wall 42. Of course,the shape of sensor pocket 52 can vary depending upon the particularsensor utilized.

Surrounding sensor pocket 52 is a sensor mount 58 which providesmechanical structure for attachment with and mounting of LED 54. Again,the particular configuration of sensor mount 58 can vary depending uponthe application.

Approximately midway along the length of rear wall 44 is a sensor pocket60 which is sized and shaped to receive light receiver 56. In contrastwith sensor pocket 52 described above carrying LED 54, sensor pocket 60is merely in the form of a hole extending through rear wall 44 (althoughit could include an upstanding wall if desirable). Because the seedfalls via gravity and rides along front wall 42, light receiver 56 canextend through rear wall 44, for reasons that will become more apparenthereinafter. Light receiver 56 and LED 54 are held in place using a tiestrap (not shown) or any other suitable fastening technique.

According to an aspect of the present invention, LED 54 does not extendthrough front wall 42 to be exposed within hollow interior 50 of seedtube 36. Rather, the portion of front wall 42 within sensor pocket 52 issubstantially transparent to light emitted from LED 54. In theembodiment shown, the transparent material within sensor pocket 52 is ofthe same type of material as the remainder of seed tube 36. For example,the material may be a plastic material with a tinting agent that allowsthe particular frequency light from LED 54 to pass therethrough, whileat the same time substantially preventing ambient light at a differentfrequency from passing therethrough. In this manner, the area withinsensor pocket 52 acts as a “window” allowing light from LED 54 to passtherethrough, while the remainder of seed tube 36 blocks ambient lightfrom passing therethrough. An example of such a material ispolycarbonate, smoked using approximately 1 to 5% colorant. Ambientlight can interfere with operation of sensor 54, 56 and therefore it isdesirable to block ambient light to a reasonable extent. To furtherassist in blocking ambient light, the outside surface of seed tube 36 inthe area outside of sensor pocket 52 can be formed with a texturedsurface, shown on a portion of seed tube 36 and represented by referencenumbers 62 and 64 in FIGS. 2 and 66 in FIG. 4.

By forming seed tube 36 from the same selected material which is bothtransparent to sensor 54, 56 but opaque to ambient light, the insidesurface of seed tube 36 adjacent LED 54 is a continuous, non-disjointsubstantially smooth surface which does not present any surface or edgeagainst which the seeds may impinge and be damaged or deflected. Thisensures that undamaged seeds are properly placed within the seed trench.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the portion of seed tube36 lying at the bottom of sensor pocket 52 can be formed from a materialwhich is different than the material from which the remainder of seedtube 36 is formed. For example, the portion at the bottom of seed tube36 can be formed from a clear plastic material or glass which does notinterfere with the operation of sensor 54, 56. The separate materialforming the window at the bottom of sensor pocket 52 is positioned suchthat the inside surface of hollow interior 50 is continuous andnon-disjoint. With this embodiment, except in a cross-sectional viewthrough sensor pocket 52 showing the different materials, seed tube 36otherwise appears as shown in FIGS. 2-4.

In the embodiment shown and described above, seed tube 36 is formed froma tinted plastic material which is opaque to ambient light andtransparent to sensor 54, 56. It may also be possible to form theremainder of seed tube 36 outside the area of sensor pocket 52 with amaterial which is opaque to both ambient light and sensor 54, 56 in thecase of a separate transparent window. Further, it may also be possibleto form the entire seed tube 36 from a material transparent to sensor54, 56 (such as clear plastic) and then coat the area of seed tube 36outside the area of sensor pocket 52.

Moreover, in the embodiment shown, only LED 54 of sensor 54, 56 ispositioned adjacent a transparent window of seed tube 36, and lightreceiver 56 is positioned within a hole formed in rear wall 44. However,it is also possible to position each of LED 54 and light receiver 56adjacent a transparent window.

Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent thatvarious modifications can be made without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined in the accompanying claims.

1. A seed tube, through which individual seeds pass, for an agriculturalseeding machine, said the seed tube comprising: a sidea front wall and arear wall opposite the front wall, the front wall and the rear walldefining a hollow interior therebetween, the front wall configured toface a direction of travel of the seed tube, the front wall having acontinuous non-disjoint substantially smooth surface exposed to saidtheseeds and including at least a portion thereof comprised of of the frontwall being formed from a substantially transparent material; and asensor including a transmitter, said transmitter positioned adjacent anoutside of said side wall, and operating through said transparentmaterial including a first half sensor and a second half sensor, thesensor configured to operate through the transparent material to detectpassage of individual seeds through said seed tube; and a mount having astructure which extends from an exterior surface of the front wall withthe transparent material and configured to receive and hold the firsthalf sensor on the exterior surface, and the rear wall including asecond half mount configured to hold the second half sensor.
 2. The seedtube of claim 1, wherein said transparent material is opaque to ambientlight and transparent to said transmitter the sensor.
 3. The seed tubeof claim 1, wherein said side wall includes a window comprised of saidtransparent material, the transparent material forms a window in thefront wall and a remainder of said side wall the front wall being opaqueto ambient light.
 4. The seed tube of claim 3, wherein said remainder ofsaid side the front wall comprises one of an opaque material, atransparent material with opaque tinting, and a transparent materialwith an opaque coating.
 5. The seed tube of claim 1, wherein said sidewall includes a sensor mount.
 6. The seed tube of claim 5 1, whereinsaid sensor mount the structure of the mount includes a sensor pocket.7. The seed tube of claim 6, further including one of a seal and anadhesive between said the first half sensor and said sensor pocket. 8.The seed tube of claim 1, wherein said transparent material comprises asubstantially clear plastic material.
 9. The seed tube of claim 1,wherein said transparent material comprises one of a plastic materialand glass.
 10. The seed tube of claim 1, wherein said transmitter one ofthe first half sensor or second half sensor comprises a light source.11. The seed tube of claim 10, wherein said light source comprises anLED.
 12. The seed tube of claim 1, wherein said side wall comprises afront wall.
 13. The seed tube of claim 1, wherein said side the frontwall includes an outer surface which is textured in an area away fromsaid the first half sensor.
 14. A seed tube, through which individualseeds pass, for an agricultural seeding machine, said seed tubecomprising a front wall and a rear wall defining a hollow interiortherebetween, at least one of said front wall and said rear wall havinga continuous non-disjoint substantially smooth surface exposed to saidseeds and including at least a portion thereof comprised of asubstantially transparent material, and a sensor mount positioned inassociation with said transparent material on a side opposite saidhollow interior to detect passage of individual seeds through said tube.15. The seed tube of claim 14, wherein at least one of said front walland said rear wall include a window comprised of said transparentmaterial, a remainder of said front wall and said rear wall beingconfigured opaque.
 16. The seed tube of claim 15, wherein said remainderof said front wall and said rear wall comprises one of an opaquematerial, a transparent material with opaque tinting, and a transparentmaterial with an opaque coating.
 17. The seed tube of claim 14, whereinat least one of said front wall and said rear wall includes a sensormount.
 18. The seed tube of claim 14, wherein each of said front walland said rear wall has an outer surface which is textured in an areaaway from each said sensor.
 19. An agricultural seeding machine,comprising: a seed meter; and a seed tube positioned to receiveindividual seeds from said the seed meter for passage through said theseed tube, said the seed tube including: a front side wall having anexterior and an interior surface, the front side wall interior surfacehaving a continuous non-disjoint and substantially smooth surfaceexposed to said the seeds passing through the tube, a portion of theinterior surface of the front side wall being concave, the exteriorsurface of the front side wall being configured to face a direction oftravel of the seed tube, and including at least a portion thereof of thefront side wall comprised of a substantially transparent material; and,the portion of the front side wall having substantially transparentmaterial including a first half mount having a structure extending fromthe exterior surface; a rear wall opposite the front side wall, the rearwall having an exterior and interior surface and a second half mount,the front side wall and the rear wall defining a hollow interior throughwhich the seeds pass, a portion of the interior surface of the rear wallbeing convex, the interior surfaces of the front side wall and the rearwall curved in a rearward direction; and a sensor pair which includes afirst half sensor and a second half sensor, the first half sensormounted into the structure of the first half mount adjacent thetransparent material which forms a part of the front side wall, thesensor pair configured to operate through the transparent material andto detect the passage of individual seeds through the interior of theseed tube. a sensor including a transmitter, said transmitter positionedadjacent an outside of said side wall, and operating through saidtransparent material to detect passage of individual seeds through saidseed tube.
 20. The agricultural seeding machine of claim 19, whereinsaid side wall includes the transparent material forms a windowcomprised of said transparent material, in the front side wall and aremainder of said side the front side wall being configured opaque. 21.The agricultural seeding machine of claim 20, wherein said remainder ofsaid side the side front wall comprises one of an opaque material, atransparent material with opaque tinting, and a transparent materialwith an opaque coating.
 22. The agricultural seeding machine of claim19, wherein said side wall includes a sensor mount.
 23. The agriculturalseeding machine of claim 22 19, wherein said sensor the structure of thefirst half mount includes a sensor pocket.
 24. The agricultural seedingmachine of claim 23, further including one of a seal and an adhesivebetween said the first half sensor and said sensor pocket.
 25. Theagricultural seeding machine of claim 19, wherein said side wail has anouter surface which the outer surface of the front side wall is texturedin an area away from said the first half sensor.
 26. The seed tube ofclaim 1, wherein the second half mount is a hole through the rear wallconfigured to receive and hold the second half sensor.
 27. Theagricultural seeding machine of claim 19, wherein the second half mounton the rear wall is a hole through the rear wall configured to receiveand hold the second half sensor.
 28. A seed tube, through whichindividual seeds pass, for an agricultural seeding machine, the seedtube comprising: a front wall and a rear wall opposite the front wall,the front wall and the rear wall defining a hollow interior throughwhich the seeds pass, the front wall configured to face a direction oftravel of the seed tube, the front wall and the rear wall curved in therearward direction, the front wall having an interior surface a portionof which is concave and the front wall having an exterior surface aportion of which is convex, the rear wall having an exterior surface aportion of which is concave and an interior surface a portion of whichis convex, the interior surface of the front wall exposed to the seedspassing through the hollow tube being continuous, non-disjoint andsubstantially smooth, the front wall including at least a portionthereof formed from a substantially transparent material, and a mounthaving a structure which extends from the outer surface of the frontwall which includes the transparent material; and a sensor pair having afirst sensor half and a second sensor half, the sensor pair configuredto detect passage of individual seeds through the interior of the seedtube, the structure of the mount configured to receive and hold thefirst sensor half adjacent to the substantially transparent material andthe outside convex exterior surface of the front wall, and the rear wallincluding a hole through the rear wall, the hole configured to receiveand hold the second sensor half.
 29. The seed tube of claim 28, whereinthe structure of the mount includes a sensor pocket.
 30. The seed tubeof claim 29, further including one of a seal and an adhesive between thefirst half sensor and said sensor pocket.
 31. A seed tube, through whichindividual seeds pass, for an agricultural seeding machine, the seedtube comprising: a front side wall and a rear side wall opposite thefront side wall and two opposing side walls extending between the frontand rear walls, the side walls defining a hollow interior through whichthe seeds pass, the front side wall configured to face a direction oftravel of the seed tube, the front side wall and the rear side wallcurved in the rearward direction, the front wall having an interiorsurface a portion of which is concave, and the front wall having anexterior surface a portion of which is convex, the rear wall having anexterior surface a portion of which is concave and an interior surface,the interior surface of the front wall exposed to the seeds passingthrough the hollow tube being continuous, non-disjoint and substantiallysmooth, the opposing side walls including at least a portion thereofformed from a substantially transparent material, and a mount having astructure which extends from the outer surface of one side wall whichincludes the transparent material; and a sensor pair having a firstsensor half and a second sensor half, the sensor pair configured todetect passage of individual seeds through the interior of the seedtube, the structure of the mount configured to associate with the firstsensor half adjacent to the substantially transparent material and theoutside exterior surface of one side wall, and one side wall including ahole, the hole configured to receive and hold the second sensor half.32. A seed tube, through which individual seeds pass, for anagricultural seeding machine, the seed tube comprising: a front wall anda rear wall opposite the front wall, the front wall and the rear walldefining a hollow interior therebetween, the front wall configured toface a direction of travel of the seed tube, the front wall having acontinuous non-disjoint substantially smooth surface exposed to theseeds and at least a portion of the front wall being formed from asubstantially transparent material; a sensor including a first halfsensor and a second half sensor, the sensor configured to operatethrough the transparent material to detect passage of individual seedsthrough said seed tube; and a mount having a structure which extendsfrom an exterior surface of the front wall with the transparent materialand configured to engage the first half sensor on the exterior surface,and the rear wall including a second half mount configured to hold thesecond half sensor.
 33. The seed tube of claim 32, wherein saidtransparent material is opaque to ambient light and transparent to thesensor.
 34. The seed tube of claim 32, wherein the transparent materialforms a window in the front wall and a remainder of the front wall beingopaque to ambient light.
 35. The seed tube of claim 32, wherein thestructure of the mount includes a sensor pocket.
 36. The seed tube ofclaim 35, further including one of a seal and an adhesive between thefirst half sensor and the sensor pocket.
 37. The seed tube of claim 32,wherein said transparent material comprises a substantially clearplastic material.
 38. The seed tube of claim 32, wherein saidtransparent material comprises one of a plastic material and glass. 39.The seed tube of claim 32, wherein one of the first half sensor orsecond half sensor comprises a light source.
 40. The seed tube of claim39, wherein said light source comprises an LED.